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'Thud'
The sound of a body hitting the ground echoed through the room, jolting the remaining guards out of their stupor. They watched in horror as two of their comrades fell to the ground, their necks twisted at unnatural angles.
Fear coursed through their bodies, causing their hands to shake and their swords to feel like lead weights. Each step felt like an eternity as they tried to back away from Reinhold's towering figure.
"I wonder," he sneered, "do mortals like you, when faced with an inevitable death, regret being born so weak?"
As he spoke, his words were like sharp needles piercing into their skin. The guard closest to him could feel his right arm shaking uncontrollably, despite trying to hold it still with his left hand. His arm trembled as he raised his sword, but before he could even take a swing, Reinhold's massive hand reached out and grabbed the guard by the face, crushing it in his grip.
“Go see your parents and ask them for me. Will ya?” Reinhold said it with full murderous intent.
As soon as Reinhold finished speaking, his muscles bulged as he flung the man towards the other figure behind him. Before either could react, Reinhold disappeared in a blur of movement and reappeared next to them, delivering a swift and deadly blow to their torsos.
The impact was so powerful that both men's stomachs burst open and their ribs shattered into pieces, sending bones and organs flying towards the wall behind them, splattering red against the white surface, leaving a grotesque stain like a twisted painting.
A cruel smile spread across Reinhold's face as he taunted.
"Isn't it ironic? You call yourself the 'Butcher of Berlinton', yet you cower and watch as I butcher your dogs like mere playthings. You're nothing more than a pathetic guard dog for those nobles." Reinhold spat, his words dripping with contempt.
Bhar'ther's face darkened at these remarks, his fists clenching in anger as he struggled to suppress his growing rage. He could feel his heartbeat quicken, sweat trickling down his brow despite the cool breeze coming from outside through the windows, and a strange warmth spreading throughout his body. It was unlike anything he'd experienced before.
It felt almost like magic—no, it WAS dark magic, and it was consuming him! Unable to contain it any longer, Bhar'ther let out a deafening roar and unleashed the energy within himself.
Without hesitation, he rushed down on Reinhold from the ceiling with two materialized knives in his hands, coated in a menacing black aura.
Reinhold's eyes widened in shock as he saw the black aura surrounding Bhar'ther. He leapt backwards, narrowly avoiding the attack.
"It seems the rumors were true after all," Reinhold muttered, his voice filled with awe as he looked at Bhar'ther.
Bhar'ther's muscles tensed as he prepared to strike again, but then he suddenly froze. His body trembled as he kneeled down on one knee, his right hand pressed to the ground and his left fist clenched it tightly.
In a sudden burst of power, he bellowed: "Domain expansion: Coffin of the Old God!"
And with that, he violently tore off his very own arm and cast it to the floor. The arm writhed and squirmed as a dark entity consumed it, spreading tendrils of inky blackness throughout the room, and from its place arose a dark aura that quickly spread throughout the mansion. A domain of darkness consumes both of them.
Bhar'ther's maniacal laughter echoed through the halls as he lifted his head, reveling in his newfound strength with a new arm formed entirely of darkness.
"I am the embodiment of the darkness itself," he declared triumphantly. "And you, Reinhold, are nothing more than an insignificant insect beneath my feet." His eyes glowed red with hatred as he glared at Reinhold.
With a flick of his wrist, Bhar'ther summoned multiple shadow clones to surround Reinhold.
"Let us see what the young lion has to offer now, shall we?" Bhar'ther chuckled as he gestured toward his minions, ordering them to attack.
Reinhold's eyes narrowed as a sinister smile spread across his face, revealing a pair of fangs glistening under the moonlight. He crouched low, ready to pounce at the nearest foe while his fingers twitched in anticipation.
"You think your measly darkness can beat mine?" Reinhold roared, his eyes glowing with a crimson hue.
In a flash, Reinhold lunged forward and grabbed the throat of the nearest shadow clone. He could feel its darkness seeping into his skin, but he held on tight, refusing to let go. With a powerful squeeze, he crushed the clone into nothingness and threw it to the ground.
But as more clones appeared, Reinhold's movements became more calculated and precise. His fingers twitched as if anticipating each attack, and every time he destroyed a clone, he seemed to be waiting for something.
Bhar'ther grew frustrated at this game of cat and mouse. He knew Reinhold was up to something, but he couldn't fall for any tricks.
"Do your worst," Reinhold challenged arrogantly, "and I shall destroy you utterly."
With those words hanging heavy in the air, he charged headlong towards Reinhold. As the distance between them shrank to mere centimeters, he lashed out with a vicious kick aimed straight at his opponent's chest.
But Reinhold was ready for him. He dove and rolled forward, evading the attack and using his own momentum to spring back onto his feet. In one fluid motion, he lunged forward and landed a strong punch on the side of Bhar'ther's face.
"I don't have time to play with you." Reinhold sneered.
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Bhar'ther snarled in fury and threw another slash with his knife at Reinhold's neck.
"Die!" He screamed furiously.
The blade cut across violently, missed Reinhold's neck by centimeters as he leaned back and kicked Bhar'ther in the gut before jumping to his left, putting some distance between them once more.
"Pathetic." Reinhold scoffed. But suddenly, he felt a warm wetness on his neck. Bringing his hand up, he saw blood seeping from a deep wound, surrounded by a strange black flame.
"Hahahaha, what's wrong, you pup?" Bhar'ther taunted and mocked him with sinister laughter.
'What the--?' Reinhold looked down at his palm; his blood was boiling, and his body temperature was rising to abnormal levels. He felt his muscles bulging as if they were about to burst. His eyes glowed red as his body burned from the inside.
"It is useless. My dark magic will consume you from within. And once you're trapped in this domain, all your abilities and techniques are rendered useless by the presence of the Old God. That's why the barrier from your necklace doesn't work."
Reinhold gritted his teeth and clenched his fists tightly. He could feel his body trembling from the pain of being burned alive from the inside out. He took a deep breath and exhaled sharply. The flames subsided, revealing his skin, which was now charred beyond recognition. Blood oozed from the cracks in his neck as smoke continued to billow out of his wounds.
"Fasinating." Reinhold muttered.
"Why are you smiling? Are you enjoying your final moments? Huh?" Bhar'ther yelled.
“Hahaha!” he cackled, surprising Bhar'ther with his sudden change in demeanor.
“Madness has taken you already?” Bhar'ther asked, confused.
The burning sensation faded, and Reinhold's body temperature dropped rapidly as he continued laughing like a crazed fool.
He then raised his head and stared straight at Bhar'ther, who flinched slightly when their eyes locked. Reinhold's expression was as cold and calm as ice, replacing his earlier frenzy.
"You're quite interesting; I'll give you that." he said, smirking slightly.
“Interesting? You're dying and you still find amusement?” Bhar'ther repeated it incredulously.
“Oh no,” Reinhold replied with a mischievous grin. “I absorbed your darkness fire. Let's just say my own fire burns brighter now thanks to your gift.”
Reinhold grinned mischievously and cracked his knuckles menacingly as he approached Bhar'ther slowly. His footsteps resounded throughout the domain, echoing ominously in the eerie silence.
Bhar'ther backed away cautiously as he eyed Reinhold suspiciously. He didn't know what kind of power Reinhold possessed, but he could tell it was dangerous.
The atmosphere became tense with each step Reinhold took. Every muscle in Bhar'ther's body tensed up as sweat poured down his forehead. His heart pounded wildly against his rib cage, beating so fast that he feared it might explode at any moment. His legs trembled violently under his weight as he fought to keep his balance.
His breathing quickened as he watched Reinhold approach him. The air around Reinhold seemed to be vibrating as the pressure he gave off grew stronger and stronger. However, not letting panic take over his mind, he immediately crouched down, preparing to attack when his arm twisted from the darkness as if about to explode.
Bhar'ther launched himself forward, his right arm morphing into a sharp blade and slashed down at Reinhold with a speed that left only an afterimage.
"Haha, I'm going all out now, boy!" He exclaimed.
Bhar'ther's blade hovered menacingly in front of Reinhold, the glint of its sharp tip reflecting the dim light of the moon. But before his blade could make contact, Reinhold raised his arms in front of him in a protective stance, bracing himself. The force of Bhar'ther's attack sent shockwaves through both of them, but Reinhold remained steadfast.
"Ugh!" He grunted in pain as Bhar'ther pressed down harder, his blade penetrating Reinhold's flesh and slicing through his left forearm with a brutal force. Blood spurted from the wound, staining his armor and the ground below.
But despite the excruciating pain, Reinhold remained unfazed by it all, his gaze locked firmly upon Bhar'ther, who seemed to notice his determination and began to attack even more fiercely. This wasn't just a physical battle - it was a test of willpower and resilience.
Reinhold gritted his teeth, enduring the agony as the blade cut deeper and deeper through his muscles, veins popping up along it like worms under his tainted skin. The blade from Bhar'ther's right arm can completely penetrate the armor on Reinhold's body. Since he entered this territory, he has been nothing more than a large piece of meat wearing a beautiful heavy armor.
The blade penetrated deep enough to reach the inner core of his muscles, but he endured it. His eyes shone with unbreakable resolve as Bhar'ther continued pressing down on him. The pain threatened to overwhelm Reinhold, but he held it together, determined never to give in no matter what.
"Haha! How do you like that? Can you even feel the pain of having your flesh and bones torn apart, Reinhold?" Bhar'ther taunted.
As they continued their intense duel, Bhar'ther's attack left absolutely no space for Reinhold to counterattack. Reinhold knew he couldn't afford to make any rash moves. If he leaves this defensive stance impulsively, his head will be the destination for that magic blade. So he must endure it for the moment, even though his body is bleeding profusely.
And he waits. Patiently. Like a lion waiting for its prey. Reinhold knew that his opponent couldn't keep up forever, and all he needed was a mere moment when Bhar'ther's attacks were out of rhythm, even just a little bit. His muscles coiled like a spring as he watched Bhar'ther's every move. He observed the rhythm of his opponent's attacks, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
His patience paid off, and finally, the moment came... When Bhar'ther's attacks slowed ever so slightly, Reinhold seized the chance.
And then, in a sudden blur of motion, Reinhold launched himself forward, arms outstretched in the blink of an eye, slapping both sides of Bhar'ther's temples. An explosion rang out from the pressure of the collision, sending shockwaves through the domain and the impact was so strong that Bhar'ther immediately felt like he was falling straight into trauma. The blood vessels in his eyes seemed ready to explode as blood sprayed from his ears, nose and mouth. His vision blurred as pain exploded through his skull. He could feel the cracks slowly spreading in his own skull.
With each passing second, Bhar'ther felt himself slipping further into darkness. His body convulsed as he fell to his knees, unable to withstand the immense pressure from Reinhold's attack. It was over in a matter of moments, but to Bhar'ther, it felt like an eternity as he lost control of his senses and bodily functions.
His consciousness is fading in and out of existence. He tried desperately to regain control, but he could no longer move or speak. Through blurred vision, he saw Reinhold towering over him, the moon casting an eerie glow on his blood-soaked armor. Reinhold's crimson eyes seemed to pierce through him, radiating with a sinister energy.
But Reinhold was not in much better shape either, as he was covered in deep gashes and drenched in blood. He could feel the excruciating pain coursing through his own body, every inch of his skin screaming from the black flames that had engulfed them both. The flames finally died down, leaving behind charred marks all over his neck and torso.
"What a tough bastard you are." He commented with admiration, his voice hoarse from the damage done to his vocal chords.
Bhar'ther collapsed on the ground, his body battered and broken after a fatal blow. Reinhold kneeled beside him, his calloused hand pressing against Bhar'ther's face to force him to look up. The once-powerful warrior was now reduced to a trembling mess, blood dripping from his mouth as he struggled to speak.
"Such a disgrace for someone with your blessed power to be reduced to a pawn for those nobles," Reinhold commented with disappointment, gazing down at Bhar'ther's scarred and bruised form.
Bhar'ther tried to respond, but all that came out was a garbled groan before he coughed up a mouthful of blood and his head collapsed back to the ground.
As the domain crumbled around them, Reinhold lifted Bhar'ther's body and placed it near the fireplace. The flickering flames illuminated the warrior's pale skin, revealing countless scars and wounds earned in battle.
Tears mixed with blood streamed down Bhar'ther's cheeks as the pain overwhelmed him, each ragged breath causing more agony. In that moment, he was no longer the 'Butcher of Berlington' anymore, but simply a broken man clinging onto life.